Cot

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a cot comprising four height-adjustable side parts ( 3 ). In order to enable the side parts to be vertically adjusted without applying a force, a plurality of controllable motors ( 4 ) is provided on the bed ( 1 ) for lowering and raising each side part ( 3 ), such that the height can be continuously adjusted. An electric motor or a hydraulic motor is used as the motor ( 4 ), and a vertical hollow post ( 5 ) is provided on at least one of the corners of the bed ( 1 ), the motor ( 4 ) being arranged in the cavity ( 10 ) of said post with a spindle-nut drive. The hollow post ( 5 ) is embodied as an extruded profiled element ( 38 ) with different functional moulded elements.

The invention relates to a bed, in particular a cot (crib), with a resting surface disposed on a bed frame and at least one height-adjustable side part, preferably four fence railings, each on the longitudinal and transverse sides of a resting surface, wherein the railings individually or jointly can at least be partially lowered and raised.

Infants, which are at risk of falling out of their bed when crawling about, must be placed in specially secured cribs. Prior art (DE 200 23 172) discloses sick beds for infants with transverse parts at the head and foot end of the bed and side parts at the longitudinal sides. To prevent the infants from falling out of the bed, the transverse and side parts are formed as fence railings. These transverse and side parts are of adequate height compared to the resting surface of the bed for the infants not to be able to climb or clamber over these transverse or side parts. However, in order to be able to attend to the children in the bed, DE 200 23 172 U1 discloses that the side and transverse parts can be swivelled downwardly from a vertical position, wherein for the lowering or raising of the railings one or several controllable air springs are provided on the bed frame on the longitudinal and transverse sides of the resting surface.

Such cribs for infants have the disadvantage that to overcome the gas pressure, the expenditure of force is necessary when swivelling the side parts. This is of disadvantage for persons attending to the infants. A further disadvantage comprises that for lowering the railing, the railing and an actuation device must be operated simultaneously which presupposes high coordination effort, which can be difficult especially for older persons.

The invention addresses the problem of further developing children's beds known within prior art such that the bed can be handled simply and safely and the height of the side railings can be adjusted without having to exert force.

This problem is solved according to the invention thereby that for lowering and raising the railings of the crib one or several controllable driving motors are provided on the bed frame. The height adjustment of the railings is possible without any expenditure of force using the motors.

In the lower end position of the railing the upper edge of the railing extends below the resting surface or at the same height as the resting surface. In this position the resting surface is accessible from all sides of the bed. In the upper end position of the railing the resting surface is delimited on all sides by the railing, such that the infants cannot fall out of the bed even when they are crawling around. To make attending to the infants easier, the height of the railing is continuously adjustable within a given range.

For the drive of the railing preferably an electric motor is provided. This motor has the advantage that the household electricity mains can be utilized directly as the energy source. An electric motor is, moreover, low-noise and reliable. A further advantage is that the maximal torque is already available at low speed of rotation of the motor. The electric motor can also be implemented as a servomotor, stepping motor or linear motor. In a further embodiment a hydraulic motor is provided.

The drive motor is advantageously securely situated on the bed and is not visible from the outside, since in at least one of the corners of the resting surface, preferably in all four corners, a hollow post extending vertically is provided, in the hollow volume of which one drive motor each is disposed. The motor can be a low-volt motor, however, since it is not accessible from the outside, it can also be operated with the full mains voltage.

The drive motor is disposed in the lower region of the hollow post and includes a spindle drive whose rotational axis extends along the longitudinal axis of the hollow post. This results in a favorable position of the motor due to the low center of gravity. The spindle extends vertically along the hollow volume whereby it becomes advantageously feasible to place in the hollow post not only the motor but also the associated device for the transmission of the rotation. A spindle drive has, moreover, the advantage that it is self-checking and thereby maintains a position once assumed.

If the spindle drive includes a sliding carriage which, depending on the direction of rotation, moves up or down during the rotation of the spindle drive, the rotational movement of the spindle is effectively converted into a vertical translational motion.

A reliable yet cost-effective movement of the carriage is ensured thereby that in the hollow post a guide is provided for the up- and down-moving carriage.

Further advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims 5 to 15.

The invention will be described by example in a preferred embodiment with reference to a drawing, wherein further advantageous details can be found in the drawing figures.

Functionally identical parts are provided with identical reference numbers.

The drawing figures depict specifically:

FIG. 1 a perspective view of the crib according to the invention,

FIG. 2 a a vertical section of the bed according to section line A-A in FIG. 2 b,

FIG. 2 b a top view onto the bed,

FIG. 3 a a detail according to marking X in FIG. 2 a,

FIG. 3 b a perspective view of the driving componentry,

FIG. 3 c a cross section through a hollow post profile,

FIG. 4 a a side view of the crib with the side fence railing completely raised,

FIG. 4 b a side view of the crib with the side railing raised halfway,

FIG. 4 c a side view of the crib with the side railing lowered completely.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective overall view of a bed 1. The bed 1 is substantially comprised of a frame 2, formed of an upper skirt or case frame 17 and a lower skirt frame 16. The upper skirt frame 17 is composed of two longitudinal skirts 17″ and two transverse skirts 17′ and the lower skirt frame 16 of lower longitudinal skirts 16″ and lower transverse skirts 16′, which are all connected in their corners by four hollow posts 5 to form the frame. At the underside of the hollow posts 5 are disposed wheels 9 in order for the crib to be movable. For the sake of clarity, a mattress is not shown.

The bottom of the hollow posts is closed by a motor base 19 and the top by a cap 20.

To prevent frail persons or infants from falling out of the bed, side parts 3 are additionally guided in the hollow posts such that they are vertically displaceable and securable in position on all sides parallel to the skirt frames 16, 17. The arresting mechanisms 18 serving for the securement in position are manually actuatable. The side parts 3 are formed as transverse 3′ and longitudinal fence railings 3″ such that it is possible to look through the parts. These transverse and longitudinal railings 3′, 3″ are of sufficient height compared to the (not shown) resting surface of the bed 1, for infants not to be able to climb or clamber over these transverse or longitudinal railings.

The illustration shows the bed 1 with the front and rear side railings 3 lowered completely. In order to be able to adjust the height of the longitudinal railings 3″ without force exertion, controllable electric motors are provided. These are in advantageous manner not visible in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 a shows a vertical section of the crib and FIG. 2 b a top view onto the crib. The section plane “A-A” in FIG. 2 a corresponds to the plane identified by “A” in FIG. 2 b.

As is evident in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, the reason for the drives to be invisible is that the four bed posts are formed as hollow posts 5 and one electric motor 4 is placed in the lower region within each hollow post 5. The train of gears necessary for the conversion of the rotational movement of the motor into the translational vertical movement of the side parts 3 is also placed into the hollow volume of post 5 as a spindle-nut drive 6. Hereby results an esthetically especially pleasing appearance since motor 4 and spindle nut drive 6 are not visible and therefore the external appearance of the crib 1 does not differ from that of conventional cribs.

FIG. 2 a shows the hollow volume 10 within the post 5, in whose lower region the motor 4 is located. This motor drives a spindle with a nut disposed thereon and thus forms the spindle-nut drive 6 whose rotational axis extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hollow post 5. Thus, not only the motor 4, but also the associated device for the conversion of the rotation into a translational movement is placed in hollow post 5.

The spindle-nut drive 6 moves a carriage 7 which, depending on the direction of rotation, moves upwardly or downwardly with the rotation of the electric motor 4. The insides of the hollow post 5 are developed as guides 15 for the carriage 7.

FIG. 3 a shows the detail X from FIG. 2 a. The carriage 7 is comprised of a basic body 11 penetrated by the spindle 22. At its upper and lower end are located guide bodies 12′, 12″ fabricated of synthetic material. During vertical movement these bodies slide along the insides of post 5 serving as guides 15.

In addition, the basic body 11 is fixedly connected in the proximity of its lower end with the nut 21.

FIG. 3 b depicts the drive componentry substantially comprised of motor 4, spindle 22, nut 21 and carriage 7, in perspective view. Carriage 7 includes additional limit switch stops 23, which, when the railing end positions are reached, actuate the associated limit switches and switch off the motor 4. At the upper end of carriage 7, furthermore, a bracket 27 with horizontal bore 24 is secured. Into this bore engages a spring-assisted bolt 28 (FIG. 3 c) of an arresting mechanism 18 of railing 3, which bolt is received in the upper bar of railing 3 such that it is horizontally movable. By means of a suitable grip, the bolt can be pulled manually from the bore 24 against the force of a spring. The railing is subsequently separated from the drive and can be lowered manually. This is advantageous, for example, in the event of failure of the energy supply. As a torque support, which absorbs the forces of reaction of the drive, serves the motor base plate 19 which closes off the bottom of the post.

Between spindle 22 and motor 4 there is additionally connected a planetary gearing 25 and, for safety, a resilient coupling 26. If, for example, the movement of the railing is blocked, the spindle 22 is displaced axially such that the coupling 26 is shortened or lengthened. This movement is utilized for the actuation of a switch which switches off the drive.

FIG. 3 c shows the cross section of the hollow post. The hollow post 5 has at its side facing the railing 3 a vertically extending elongated hole 8, through which the bolt 28 supported in the upper bar 29 engages into the bore 24 of the bracket 27, such that the railing 3 is connected with carriage 7. Both ends of the longitudinal railings 3″ are in this manner coupled with one drive each. The transverse railings 3′ do not include electric-motor drives. The driving forces are thereby advantageously introduced symmetrically into the structure.

In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b a longitudinal railing 3″ is driven in each instance by two electric motors 4. In principle, each railing can also be driven on one side, such that to each railing side one drive can be assigned. In this case both longitudinal railing 3″ as well as also both transverse railings 3′ can be drive by one electric motor 4 independently of one another.

The upper and the lower railing bar 29, 30 include as a guide at each end a T-shaped guide profile 31, which engages into a T-shaped guide groove 32 adapted thereto of the adjoining hollow post 5. The guidance of the vertical movement of the longitudinal railing 3″ thereby takes place such that it is mechanically highly stable.

Since the spindle-nut drive 6 is self-checking, it maintains its position once it is assumed even when the motor is switched off. The railing 3 is hereby held securely in any desired position after it has been stopped.

The transverse railing 3′ fastened on the same hollow post 5 is guided vertically movable in the same manner in the hollow post, however, as stated, it is not motor-driven. Instead, it can be arrested in different height steps. For this purpose, instead of the elongated hole 8, which is provided in a motor driven railing, several bores 33 disposed at different heights are introduced in the hollow post 5.

The profile of the hollow post is with advantage extruded from aluminum. The extruded profile is symmetric and can therefore be utilized for the production of all four posts of the crib. Right and left posts of a bed side differ solely by the position of the elongated hole 8 and the arresting bores 33. Additional formed-on rear hafts 34 permit sliding in wood profiles as decorative trimming 35 and thereby to lend the entire bed the attractive appearance of a wood bed. It is especially advantageous that the profile of the hollow posts also includes profiled grooves 36, in which the skirts 16, 17 are received by means of suitable securement elements 37 with high stability. In a further diagonally disposed groove 39 limit switches are fastened.

FIGS. 4 a, 4 b and 4 c show a front view of the bed 1, each time with the longitudinal fence railing 3″ raised completely, with the longitudinal railing 3″ raised halfway and with the longitudinal railing 3″ lowered completely.

List of Reference Numbers  1 Bed  2 Frame  3 Side parts   3′ Transverse fence railing  3″ Longitudinal fence railing  4 Drive motor  5 Hollow post   5′ Hollow post right  5″ Hollow post left  6 Spindle-nut drive  7 Carriage  8 Elongated hole  9 Wheel 10 Hollow volume 11 Basic body 12 Guide body  12′ Guide body above  12″ Guide body below 13 14 15 Guide 16 Skirt 17 Skirt 18 Arresting mechanism 19 Motor base plate 20 Cap 21 Nut 22 Spindle 23 Limit switch 24 Bore 25 Planetary gearing 26 Spring coupling 27 Bracket 28 Bolt 29 Upper railing bar 30 Lower railing bar 31 Guide profile 32 Guide groove 33 Arresting bore 34 Rear haft 35 Decorative trimming 36 Profiled groove 37 Securement element 38 Extruded profile 39 Fastening groove 

1. Bed, in particular crib, with at least one side part (3), preferably four side parts (3), height-adjustable on a bed frame (2), on the longitudinal and transverse sides of the bed (1), characterized in that for lowering and raising the at least one side part (3), one or several controllable motors (4) are provided on the bed (1) and/or that the height of the upper edge of the at least one side part (3) is continuously adjustable within a given range.
 2. Bed as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that as the motor (4) an electric motor or a hydraulic motor is provided and in at least one of the corners of the bed (1), preferably in all four corners, a vertically extending hollow post (5) is provided, in the hollow space (10) of which one motor (4) is disposed.
 3. Bed as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the motor (4) is disposed in the lower region of the hollow post (5) and preferably includes a spindle-nut drive (6) whose rotational axis extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hollow post (5) and that the spindle-nut drive (6) includes a carriage (7) which, depending on the direction of rotation, moves upwardly or downwardly during the rotation of the motor (4).
 4. Bed as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that in the hollow post (5) a guide (15) for the carriage (7) moving up- or downwardly is provided.
 5. Bed as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the hollow post (5) on its side facing the side part (3) includes a vertically extending elongated hole (8).
 6. Bed as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the side part (3) is preferably detachably connected with the carriage (7).
 7. Bed as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the hollow post (5) is formed as an extruded profile (38), wherein the profile (38) preferably includes rear hafts (34) for sliding in decorative trimming (35).
 8. Bed as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the profile (38) includes a profiled groove (36) with rear haft for securing one skirt end (16, 17).
 9. Bed as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the profile (38) includes a guide groove (32), preferably with rear haft, for the guidance of the side part (3).
 10. Bed as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the profile (38) includes an inwardly open fastening groove (39).
 11. Bed as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the spindle (22) is disposed such that it penetrates the carriage (7).
 12. Bed as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that between spindle (22) and motor (4) a spring coupling (26) is provided.
 13. Bed as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the carriage (7) in the proximity of its lower end includes a nut (21) engaging into threading of the spindle (22).
 14. Bed as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the carriage (7) is formed shorter than or of equal length as the spindle (22), wherein the spindle (22) is formed longer than or equal to a maximum adjustment travel of the side part (3).
 15. Bed as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the carriage (7) in the proximity of its upper end includes a bracket (27) into which preferably a bore (24) is formed in for receiving a bolt (28). 